Image input/output apparatus, method of controlling image input/output apparatus, image input/output system, and storage media

ABSTRACT

To obtain image outputs which are equivalent to those obtained with local outputs even with regard to images received from an external device, there is provided an image input/output apparatus having an input section for inputting image data of original images, and an output section for outputting image data, and being connected to at least one other image input/output apparatus via a communication medium. A transmission section transmits the image data input by the input section and image accompanying information relating to the input image data to the other image input/output apparatus. A receiving receives image data and image accompanying information relating thereto from the other image input/output apparatus. An output control section carries out control so as to output images using the output section based on the image data and the image accompanying information received by the receiving section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image input/output apparatus, whichare connected to other apparatuses via a communication medium, a methodof controlling the image input/output apparatus, an image input/outputsystem, and storage media storing programs for executing the abovemethods.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, image forming systems have been devised, including those(hereinafter referred to as “remote copying systems”) comprised of animage input apparatus (for example, a scanner) and an image outputapparatus (for example, a printer) connected to each other by atransmission medium such as a network via a controller unit, and those(hereinafter referred to as “cascade copying systems”) comprised of asingle image input apparatus and a plurality of image outputapparatuses, in which the image input apparatus transmits images to theimage output apparatuses in order to improve productivity.

Further, in recent years, the functions of image input/outputapparatuses (for example, copying machines) have been significantlyimproved, and the remote copying systems and cascade copying systems arerequired to provide copying functions and performance equivalent tothose of local copying provided by a single local image input/outputapparatus.

Moreover, one of the image operation modes available is an automaticcassette selecting mode of selecting an optimum sheet size for imageformation. This is an operation mode in which the size of an image inputby an image input apparatus is detected, and, out of cassettes possessedby an image output apparatus, a cassette having sheets of the mostsuitable size set therein is selected automatically. By selecting theoptimum sheet size using the automatic cassette selecting mode, the usercan set the sheet size easily. When image formation is carried out inone of the above described conventional image forming systems using theautomatic cassette selecting mode, the automatic cassette selection isexecuted by the image input apparatus by checking cassette informationon a plurality of image output apparatuses.

Typically, when a single image input/output apparatus executes localcopying, it transmits information (hereinafter referred to as“image-accompanying information”) accompanying an image and obtainedwhen an original was scanned, to a printer, which then controls printingbased on this image-accompanying information. Such image-accompanyinginformation includes, for example, the amount of white space (i.e. themargin sizes) provided at the top, bottom, left and right of the scannedimage, the type of the original (for example, text or photograph), thesize of the original, information for distinguishing the front of theoriginal from the back, and the image size prior to correction in thecase that the image size has been corrected by fine zooming adjustment.

However, although the remote copying systems or cascade copying systemsare required to provide copying functions and performance equivalent tothose of local apparatuses, the image output apparatus has insufficientimage-accompanying information, so that output images obtained may notbe so good as those obtained by local copying.

Moreover, when the image input apparatus carries out automatic cassetteselection for a remote image output apparatus when carrying out imageinput, there is a need to collectively manage cassette information for aplurality of image output apparatuses on the image input apparatus side.Thus, when a cassette of one of the image output apparatuses has beenchanged, the user or apparatus has to perform troublesome operationssuch as changing the cassette information.

Further, when a cascade operation has been started but an error occursbecause, for example, no sheet has been set in a cassette at a selectedremote location which has been selected through the automatic cassetteselecting operation, the user may have to change the cassette at theremote location, and then return to the image input apparatus to give a“restart” instruction, suspend image transmission, and execute othercumbersome processes required to eliminate the error. Consequently, theoverall productivity decreases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above problems, it is a first object of the presentinvention to provide an image input/output apparatus, a method ofcontrolling the image input/output apparatus, an image input/outputsystem, which are capable of obtaining image outputs which areequivalent to those obtained with local outputs even with regard toimages received from an external device, and storage media storingprograms for executing the above methods.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide an imageinput/output apparatus, a method of controlling the image input/outputapparatus, an image input/output system, which are capable of obtainingprinting outputs which are equivalent to those obtained with localoutputs even with regard to images transmitted to an external device.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide an imageinput/output apparatus, a method of controlling the image input/outputapparatus, an image input/output system, which are capable of obtainingimage outputs which are equivalent to those obtained with local outputseven with regard to images received from an external device connectedvia a communication medium.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide an imageinput/output apparatus, a method of controlling the image input/outputapparatus, an image input/output system, which are capable of obtainingimage outputs which are equivalent to those obtained with local outputseven with regard to images transmitted to an external device, withoutincreasing the load on the network.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide an imageinput/output apparatus, a method of controlling the image input/outputapparatus, an image input/output system, which allow a remote apparatusto carry out cassette management and selection, thus eliminating theneed for the local side to manage cassettes, and a storage mediumstoring a program for executing the above method.

It is a sixth object of the present invention to provide an imageinput/output apparatus, a method of controlling the image input/outputapparatus, an image input/output system, which allow a remote apparatusto carry out cassette management and selection, thus enabling handlingof cassette selection on the remote side even when a remote output errorhas occurred, and a storage medium storing a program for executing theabove method.

To attain the above objects, in a first aspect of the present invention,there is provided an image input/output apparatus having input means forinputting image data of original images, and output means for outputtingimage data, the apparatus being connected to at least one other imageinput/output apparatus via a communication medium, comprisingtransmission means for transmitting the image data input by the inputmeans and image accompanying information relating to the input imagedata to the at least one other image input/output apparatus, receivingmeans for receiving image data and image accompanying informationrelating thereto from the at least one other image input/outputapparatus, and output control means for carrying out control so as tooutput images using the output means based on the image data and theimage accompanying information received by the receiving means.

Typically, the image accompanying information is indicative of whetherthe image data corresponding to the image accompanying information isrelated to a front page of an original or to a back page of theoriginal, and the output control means adjusts an output position of animage on a recording medium based on the image accompanying information.

In a typical preferred embodiment, the output means is a printer, andthe output control means adjusts a printing position of an image on aprinting sheet in the printer, based on the image accompanyinginformation.

The image accompanying information may also be indicative of a type oforiginal, and the output control means adjusts output quality of animage on a recording medium based on the image accompanying information.

In a preferred embodiment, the output means is a printer, and the outputcontrol means adjusts image quality of an image to be printed by theprinter, based on the image accompanying information.

The image accompanying information may also be indicative of sizes ofmargins contained in the image data corresponding to the imageaccompanying information, and the output control means adjusts an outputposition of an image on a recording medium based on the imageaccompanying information.

In a preferred embodiment, the output means is a printer, and the outputcontrol means adjusts a printing position of an image on a printingsheet in the printer, based on the image accompanying information.

The image accompanying information may also be indicative of an imagesize before fine adjustment of image size is carried out, and the outputcontrol means carries out at least selection of a recording medium basedon the image accompanying information.

In a preferred embodiment, the output means is a printer having aplurality of sheet feeding stages, and the output control means carriesout selection of the sheet feeding stages, selection of a printing sheetand image rotation control based on the image accompanying information.

Typically, the input means is a scanner.

In a preferred embodiment, transmission means transmits the imageaccompanying information using a free area in a header of a TIFF file.

The above preferred forms of the first aspect also apply to the otheraspects of the present invention given below.

To attain the above objects, the first aspect of the present inventionfurther provides a method of controlling an image input/output apparatushaving an input section that inputs image data of original images, andan output section that outputs image data, and being connected to atleast one other image input/output apparatus via a communication medium,comprising a transmission step of transmitting the image data input bythe input section and image accompanying information relating to theinput image data to the at least one other image input/output apparatus,a receiving step of receiving image data and image accompanyinginformation relating thereto from the at least one other imageinput/output apparatus, and an output control step of controlling so asto output images using the output section based on the image data andthe image accompanying information received through the receiving step.

To attain the above objects, the first aspect of the present inventionfurther provides an image input/output system in which a plurality ofimage input/output apparatuses each having input means for inputtingimage data of original images, and output means for outputting imagedata are connected together via a communication medium, comprisingtransmission means for transmitting the image data input by the inputmeans and image accompanying information relating to the input imagedata to at least one of the image input/output apparatus, receivingmeans for receiving image data and image accompanying informationrelating thereto from at least one of the image input/output apparatus,and output control means for carrying out control so as to output imagesusing the output means based on the image data and the imageaccompanying information received by the receiving means.

To attain the above objects, the first aspect of the present inventionfurther provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a programcode that implements a method of controlling an image input/outputapparatus having an input section that inputs image data of originalimages, and an output section that outputs image data, and beingconnected to at least one other image input/output apparatus via acommunication medium, the program code comprising a transmission codefor transmitting image data input by the input section and imageaccompanying information relating to the input image data to the atleast one other image input/output apparatus, a receiving code forreceiving image data and image accompanying information relating theretofrom the at least one other image input/output apparatus, and an outputcontrol code for controlling so as to output images using the outputsection based on the image data and the image accompanying informationreceived through the receiving code.

To attain the above objects, a second aspect of the present inventionprovides: an image input/output apparatus connected to at least oneprinting apparatus via a communication medium, comprising input meansfor inputting image data of original images, and transmission means fortransmitting image data to the at least one printing apparatus, whereinthe transmission means transmits the image data of the original imagesand image accompanying information relating to the image data of theoriginal images to the at least one printing apparatus; a method ofcontrolling an image input/output apparatus having an input section thatinputs original images, and being connected to at least one printingapparatus via a communication medium, comprising an input step ofinputting image data of the original images using the input section, anda transmission step of transmitting image data to the at least oneprinting apparatus, wherein in the transmission step, the image data ofthe original images and image accompanying information relating to theimage data of the original images is transmitted to the at least oneprinting apparatus; an image input/output system in which at least oneprinting apparatus and at least one image input/output apparatus areconnected together via a communication medium, comprising input meansfor inputting image data of original images, and transmission means fortransmitting image data to the at least one printing apparatus, whereinthe transmission means transmits the image data of the original imagesand image accompanying information relating to the image data of theoriginal images to the at least one printing apparatus; acomputer-readable storage medium storing a program code that implementsa method of controlling an image input/output apparatus having an inputsection that inputs original images and being connected to at least oneprinting apparatus via a communication medium, the program codecomprising an input code for inputting image data of original imagesusing the input section, and a transmission code for transmitting imagedata to the at least one printing apparatus, wherein the transmissioncode implements transmission of the image data of the original imagesand image accompanying information relating to the image data of theoriginal images to the at least one printing apparatus; and acomputer-readable storage medium storing a program code that, in animage input/output apparatus having a scanner section, a printersection, a memory section, an image processing section, and an operatingsection and being connected to at least one other image input/outputapparatus via a network, implements a method of outputting, using the atleast one other image input/output apparatus, image data input by thescanner section, the program code comprising a job controlling code forcontrolling a job generated based on copy setting information input bythe operating section, a device controlling code for carrying out devicecontrol based on the job such that the scanner section inputs imagedata, the image processing section converts the input image data into aTIFF file, and the memory section stores the TIFF file, and a networkcontrolling code for transmitting the TIFF file stored in the memorysection to the at least one other image input/output apparatus, wherein,when conversion of the input image data into the TIFF file is carriedout, the device controlling code implements attaching device controllinginformation and the copy setting information to a header of the TIFFfile, and the network controlling code implements transmission of theTIFF file with the device controlling information and the copy settinginformation attached to the header thereof to the at least one otherimage input/output apparatus.

To attain the above objects, a third aspect of the present inventionprovides: an image input/output apparatus connected via a communicationmedium to at least one image reading apparatus that input image data oforiginal images, comprising receiving means for receiving the image dataof the original images from the at least one image reading apparatus,printing means for printing image data, and printing control means forcontrolling printing of the image data received by the receiving means,using the printing means, wherein the receiving means receives imageaccompanying information relating to the image data of the originalimages, and the printing control means controls the printing using theprinting means based on the image data and the image accompanyinginformation received by the receiving means; a method of controlling animage input/output apparatus having a printing section that prints imagedata, and being connected via a communication medium to at least oneimage reading apparatus that input image data of original images,comprising a receiving step of receiving the image data of the originalimages from the at least one image reading apparatus, a printing step ofprinting image data using the printing section, and a printing controlstep of controlling printing of image data received through thereceiving step, using the printing step, wherein in the receiving step,image accompanying information relating to the image data of theoriginal images is received, and in the printing control step, theprinting using the printing section is controlled based on the imagedata and the image accompanying information received through thereceiving step; an image input/output system in which at least one imagereading apparatus that each input image data of original images and atleast one image input/output apparatus are connected together via acommunication medium, comprising receiving means for receiving the imagedata of the original images from the at least one image readingapparatus, printing means for printing image data using the at least oneimage output apparatus, and printing control means for controllingprinting of the image data received by the receiving means, using theprinting means, wherein the receiving means receives image accompanyinginformation relating to the image data of the original images, and theprinting control means controls the printing using the printing meansbased on the image data and the image accompanying information receivedby the receiving means; a computer-readable storage medium storing aprogram code that implements a method of controlling an imageinput/output apparatus having a printing section that prints image dataand being connected via a communication medium to at least one imagereading apparatus that inputs image data of original images, the programcode comprising a receiving code for receiving the image data of theoriginal images from the at least one image reading apparatus, aprinting code for printing image data using the printing section, and aprinting control code for controlling printing of image data receivedthrough the receiving code, using the printing code, wherein thereceiving code implements reception of image accompanying informationrelating to the image data of the original images, and the printingcontrol code implements control of the printing using the printingsection based on the image data and the image accompanying informationreceived through the receiving code; and a computer-readable storagemedium storing a program code that, in an image input/output apparatushaving a scanner section, a printer section, a memory section, an imageprocessing section, and an operating section and being connected to atleast one other image input/output apparatus via a network, implements amethod of outputting, using the printer section, image data input by theat least one other image input/output apparatus, the program codecomprising a network controlling code for receiving image data in TIFFfile format from the at least one other image input/output apparatus,storing the received image data in the memory section, and issuing a jobbased on the received image data, a job controlling code for controllingthe job issued through the network controlling code, and a devicecontrolling code for carrying out device control based on the job suchthat the image processing section expands the stored image data in TIFFfile format into image data before conversion into the TIFF file format,and the printer section outputs the expanded image data, wherein devicecontrolling information and copy setting information from the at leastone other image input/output apparatus is attached to a header of theTIFF file, and the device controlling code implements control such thatthe image data is outputted based on the device controlling informationand the copy setting information from the at least one other imageinput/output apparatus.

To attain the above objects, a fourth aspect of the present inventionprovides: an image input/output apparatus connected to at least oneimage output apparatus via a communication medium, comprising convertingmeans for converting input image data into a TIFF file, and transmissionmeans for transmitting the TIFF file converted by the converting meansto the at least one image output apparatus, wherein the transmissionmeans attaches to a free area in a header of the TIFF file, controlinformation for the at least one image output apparatus to carry outimage output of the image data, and transmits the control information; amethod of controlling an image input apparatus connected to at least oneimage output apparatus via a communication medium, comprising aconverting step of converting input image data into a TIFF file, and atransmission step of transmitting the TIFF file converted through theconverting step to the at least one image output apparatus, wherein inthe transmission step, control information for the at least one imageoutput apparatus to carry out image output of the image data is attachedto a free area in a header of a TIFF file and transmitted; an imageinput/output system in which at least one image output apparatus and atleast one image input/output apparatus are connected together via acommunication medium, comprising converting means for converting imagedata input by the at least one image input apparatus into a TIFF file,and transmission means for transmitting the TIFF files converted by theconverting means to the at least one image output apparatus, wherein thetransmission means attaches to a free area in a header of the TIFFfiles, control information for the at least one image output apparatusto carry out image output of the image data, and transmits the controlinformation; and a computer-readable storage medium storing a programcode that implements a method of controlling an image input/outputapparatus connected to at least one image output apparatus via acommunication medium, the program code comprising a converting code forconverting input image data into a TIFF file, and transmission code fortransmitting the TIFF file converted through the converting code to theat least one image output apparatus, wherein the transmission codeimplements attaching control information for the at least one imageoutput apparatus to carry out image output of the image data to a freearea in a header of the TIFF file, and transmission of the controlinformation.

To attain the above objects, a fifth aspect of the present inventionprovides an image input/output apparatus having output means foroutputting image data, and being connected to at least one other imageinput/output apparatus via a communication medium, comprising managementmeans for managing cassette information on sheet cassettes provided inthe output means, and first selection means for selecting one of thesheet cassettes for outputting image data by the output means based onthe cassette information managed by the management means, wherein, whenimage data received from the at least one other image input/outputapparatus is to be outputted by the output means, the first selectionmeans selects one of the sheet cassettes based on the cassetteinformation; a method of controlling an image input/output apparatushaving an output section that outputs image data, and being connected toat least one image input/output apparatus via a communication medium,comprising a management step of managing cassette information on sheetcassettes provided in the output section, and a first selection step ofselecting one of the sheet cassettes for outputting image data by theoutput section based on the cassette information managed through themanagement step, wherein, when image data received from the at least oneimage input/output apparatus is to be outputted by the output section,in the first selection step, one of the sheet cassettes is selectedbased on the cassette information; an image input/output system in whicha plurality of image input/output apparatuses having output means foroutputting image data are connected together via a communication medium,at least one if the image input/output apparatus on sheet cassettesprovided in the output means, and first selection means for selectingone of the sheet cassettes for outputting image data by the output meansbased on the cassette information managed by the management means,wherein, when image data received from the at least one other imageinput/output apparatus is to be outputted by the output means, the firstselection means selects one of the sheet cassettes based on the cassetteinformation.

To attain the above objects, a sixth aspect of the present inventionprovides an image input/output apparatus having output means foroutputting image data, and being connected to at least other one imageinput/output apparatus via a communication medium, comprising managementmeans for managing cassette information on sheet cassettes provided inthe output means, and first selection means for selecting one of thesheet cassettes for outputting image data by the output means based onthe cassette information managed by the management means, wherein, whenimage data received from the at least one other image input/outputapparatus is to be outputted by the output means, the first selectionmeans selects one of the sheet cassettes based on the cassetteinformation; a method of controlling an image input/output apparatushaving an output section that outputs image data, and being connected toat least one image input/output apparatus via a communication medium,comprising a management step of managing cassette information on sheetcassettes provided in the output section, and a first selection step ofselecting one of the sheet cassettes for outputting image data by theoutput section based on the cassette information managed through themanagement step, wherein, when image data received from the at least oneimage input/output apparatus is to be outputted by the output section,in the first selection step, one of the sheet cassettes is selectedbased on the cassette information; an image input/output system in whicha plurality of image input/output apparatues having output means foroutputting image data are connected together via a communication medium,comprising at least one image input/output apparatus management meansfor managing cassette information on sheet cassettes provided in theoutput means, and first selection means for selecting one of the sheetcassettes for outputting image data by the output means based on thecassette information managed by the management means, wherein, whenimage data received from the at least one other image input/outputapparatus is to be outputted by the output means, the first selectionmeans selects one of the sheet cassettes based on the cassetteinformation.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an entire systemincluding a plurality of image input/output apparatuses according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of acontroller unit of an image input/output apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the construction of an image input/outputapparatus as viewed from the outside;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the construction of a scanner image processingsection 2080;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the construction of a printer image processingsection 2090;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the construction of an imagecompressing section 2040;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the construction of an image rotating section2030;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the addresses of image data at a transfersource;

FIG. 9 is a view showing directions in which image data are written andread out;

FIG. 10 is a view showing the construction of a device interface section2020;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the construction of an operating section;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of theoperating section and an operating section interface;

FIG. 13 is a view showing an initial screen displayed on an LCD displaysection;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a setting screen displayed when a soft keyappearing in FIG. 13 is depressed;

FIG. 15 is a view showing a standard screen displayed when cascadecopying is set in the setting screen shown in FIG. 14 and a settingenter key is then depressed;

FIG. 16 is a view showing the construction of software for processesexecuted by the controller unit;

FIG. 17 is a view showing the construction of a TIFF header used in thepresent invention;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are views showing the locations of margins in ascanned image, in which:

FIG. 18A shows an original image; and

FIG. 18B shows a scanned image;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are views showing a printing process executed in thecase where a “no sheet” status occurs during A4-sized image printing anda B4-sized sheet is then selected;

FIG. 20 is a view showing a screen displayed on the operating sectionwhen printing designation is switched from double-side printing tosingle-side printing;

FIG. 21 is a view showing a screen displayed when left side binding isset;

FIGS. 22A and 22B are views showing results of printing when the frontand back sides of an original image are copied in a remote copy mode, inwhich:

FIG. 22A shows the front side of the original image; and

FIG. 22B shows the back side thereof;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart useful in explaining a remote copy processexecuted by the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the procedure of an image output processexecuted by the controller unit 2000;

FIG. 25 is a flow chart 1 showing the procedure of an image outputprocess executed by an image input/output apparatus 220 as a remoteside; and

FIG. 26 is a flow chart 2 showing a continued part of the procedure ofthe image output process executed by the image input/output apparatus220 as the remote side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described below with reference to thedrawings showing preferred embodiments thereof.

(First embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a view showing the construction of an image forming system towhich the present invention is applicable.

An image input/output apparatus 200 is comprised of a scanner 2070 as animage input device, a printer 2095 as an image output device, acontroller unit 2000, and an operating section 2012 as a user interface.The scanner 2070, the printer 2095, and the operating section 2012 areeach connected to the controller unit 2000. The controller unit 2000 isconnected to a LAN 2011 as network transmitting means. Further, otherimage input/output apparatuses 220, 230 having an equipmentalconstruction similar to that of the image input/output apparatus 200 arealso connected to the LAN 2011. The image input/output apparatus 220 hasa scanner 2270, a printer 2295, and an operating section 2212, which areeach connected to a controller unit 2200. The image input/outputapparatus 230 has a scanner 2370, a printer 2395, and an operatingsection 2312, which are each connected to a controller unit 2300. Anoffline finisher 240 carries out post-processing of printed sheetsoffline. A server computer 250 has a large capacity storage. A personalcomputer 260 is suitable for an individual user.

It should be noted that if, for example, reading in of an image (imageinput) is carried out using the scanner 2070 and printing (image output)is carried out using the printer 2095, that is, both the reading in andthe printing are carried out within the image input/output apparatus200, then this is referred to as ‘local copying’; the same applies tothe image input/output apparatuses 220, 230. However, if, for example,reading in of an image (image input) is carried out using the scanner2070 of the image input/output apparatus 200 but printing (image output)is carried out using the printer 2295 of the image input/outputapparatus 220 or the printer 2395 of the image input/output apparatus230, then this is referred to as ‘remote copying’. Moreover, if, forexample, reading in of an image (image input) is carried out using thescanner 2070 of the image input/output apparatus 200 and printing (imageoutput) is carried out using both the printer 2295 of the imageinput/output apparatus 220 and the printer 2395 of the imageinput/output apparatus 230, then this is referred to as ‘cascadecopying’.

A description will now be given of a case in which reading in of animage (image input) is carried out using the scanner 2070 of the imageinput/output apparatus 200 and this image data is transmitted to theprinter of one of the other image input/output apparatuses, and moreoverprinting (image output) is carried out using the printer 2095 of theimage input/output apparatus 200 based on image data transmitted fromthe scanner of one of the other image input/output apparatuses.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of thecontroller unit 2000 of the image input/output apparatus 200.

The controller unit 2000 is connected to the scanner 2070 as an imageinput device via a bus 2071, and is connected to the printer 2095 as animage output device via a bus 2096. On the other hand, the controllerunit 2000 is connected to the LAN 2011 and a public line 2051 (WAN) tocontrol the input and output of image information and deviceinformation.

A CPU 2001 is a controller that controls the entire system. A RAM 2002is a system work memory for operation of the CPU 2001, and also acts asan image memory that temporarily stores image data. A ROM 2003 acts as aboot ROM that stores a system boot program. An HDD 2004 is a hard diskdrive that stores system software and image data.

An operating section interface 2006 acts as an interface with theoperating section 2012, and outputs image data to be displayed on theoperating section 2012 to the operating section 2012. Moreover, theoperating section interface 2006 also serves to communicate to the CPU2001 information that a user of the present system inputs from theoperating section 2012. A network interfacing section 2010 is connectedto the LAN 2011 to carry out input and output of information. A modem2050 is connected to the public line 2051 to carry out input and outputof information. The above devices are arranged on a system bus 2007.

An image bus interface 2005 connects between the system bus 2007 and animage bus 2008 that transfers image data at a high speed, and acts as abus bridge that converts data structures. The image bus 2008 is a PCIbus or a bus stipulated by the IEEE 1394.

Devices arranged on the image bus 2008 will be described. A raster imageprocessor (RIP) 2060 expands a PDL code into bit map images. A deviceinterface section 2020 connects the scanner 2070 and the printer 2095 tothe controller unit 2000 to carry out synchronous/asynchronousconversion of image data. A scanner image processing section 2080carries out correction, processing and editing on input image data. Aprinter image processing section 2090 carries out correction, resolutionconversion, or the like on print output image data so as to make thedata suitable for the printer 2095. An image rotating section 2030rotates image data. An image compressing section 2040 carries out JPEGcompression/decompression processes on multivalued image data, and alsocarries out JBIG, MMR, and MH compression/decompression processes onbinary image data.

In the HDD 2004, information such as image output speeds andinstallation locations relating to nodes connected to the network (LAN2011), which were checked upon the start of the apparatus, is stored foreach address.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the construction of the image input/outputapparatus 200 as viewed from the outside.

The scanner 2070 as an image input device illuminates an image on asheet as an original, scans the image with a CCD line sensor, not shown,to convert it into an electrical signal as raster image data, and thentransmits this electrical signal to the controller unit 2000 via the bus2071. Original sheets are set in a tray 2073 of an original feeder 2072,and when the user gives, from the operating section 2012, an instructionfor starting a reading operation, the CPU 2001 of the controller unit2000 gives an instruction to the scanner 2070 via the bus 2071. Then,the feeder 2072 feeds the original sheets sheet by sheet, while thescanner 2070 reads images from the originals.

The printer 2095 as an image output device is a section for convertingraster image data received from the controller unit 2000 via the bus2096 into images on sheets. Methods for carrying out the aboveconversion include an electrophotographic method that uses aphotosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and an inkjet method ofprinting images directly on sheets by ejecting ink from an array of finenozzles, but any method may be used. Actuation of the printing operationis carried out by means of an instruction transmitted from the CPU 2001of the controller unit 2000 via the bus 2096. The printer 2095 has aplurality of sheet feeding stages so that sheets of different sizes ororientations can be selected, and has sheet cassettes 2101, 2102 and2103 corresponding to these stages. Moreover, a sheet ejection tray 2111is a section for receiving sheets that have been printed. Note thatrecording media housed in the sheet cassettes 2101, 2102 and 2103 arenot limited to printing sheets but may be OHP sheets and other types ofsheets.

The construction of the scanner image processing section 2080 will nowbe described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. 4. An imagebus interface controller 2081 is connected to the image bus 2008 tocontrol a bus access sequence thereof, and also controls each of thedevices in the scanner image processing section 2080 and generatestiming therefor. A filter processing section 2082 carries outconvolution calculations using a spatial filter. An editing section2083, for example, recognizes a closed region in input image data whichis enclosed using a marker pen, and executes image processing such asshadowing, half-tone dot meshing, or negative/positive reversal on theimage data in this closed region.

To change the resolution of a read image, a variable power processingsection 2084 increases or reduces the size of the raster image in itsmain scanning direction by means of an interpolation calculation, whilechanging the size of the image in its sub-scanning direction by changingthe scanning speed of the image reading line sensor, not shown.

A table 2085 is used for table conversion for converting the image data,that is, the read brightness data, into density data. A binaryconverting section 2086 converts the multivalued gray scale image intobinary data by means of an error diffusion process or a screen process.The processed image data is transferred back onto the image bus 2008 viathe image bus interface controller 2081.

The construction of the printer image processing section 2090 will nowbe described using a block diagram shown in FIG. 5. An image businterface controller 2091 is connected to the image bus 2008 to controla bus access sequence thereof, and also controls each of the devices inthe printer image processing section 2090 and generates timing therefor.

A resolution conversion section 2092 converts image data transmitted viathe LAN 2011 or the public line 2051 into data of a resolution suitablefor the printer 2095. A smoothing processing section 2093 executes aprocess of smoothing jaggy parts (i.e. jagged parts of the image such asdiagonal lines which appear at black/white boundaries) of the image datathat has been subjected to the resolution conversion.

The construction of the image compressing section 2040 will now bedescribed with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. 6. An imagebus interface controller 2041 is connected to the image bus 2008 tocontrol a bus access sequence thereof, and provides such control astiming control required to exchange data with an input buffer 2042 andan output buffer 2045, and mode setting for an image compressing section2043.

The CPU 2001 carries out setting of the image bus interface controller2041 for image compression control via the image bus 2008. Based on thissetting, the image bus interface controller 2041 carries out settings ofthe image compressing section 2043 required for the image compression(for example, MMR compression or JBIG decompression). After the requiredsettings have been made, the CPU 2001 again permits the image businterface controller 2041 to transfer image data. In accordance withthis permission, the image bus interface controller 2041 startstransferring image data from the RAM 2002 or the devices on the imagebus 2008.

The received image data are temporarily stored in the input buffer 2042,and in response to image data requests from the image compressingsection 2043, the images are transferred at a fixed speed.

At this time, the input buffer 2042 determines whether or not the imagedata can be transferred between the image bus interface controller 2041and the image compressing section 2043. When it is impossible to read inimage data from the image bus 2008 or write images to the imagecompressing section 2043, the input buffer 2042 provides such controlthat data is not transferred (such control will hereinafter be referredto as “handshaking”).

The image compressing section 2043 temporarily stores the received imagedata in a RAM 2044. This is because several lines of data may berequired depending on the type of image compression processing, so thatthe first line of image data cannot be compressed before several linesof image data have been provided.

The image data that have been subjected to image compression isimmediately transmitted to the output buffer 2045. The output buffer2045 executes handshaking with the image bus interface controller 2041and the image compressing section 2043, and then transfers the imagedata to the image bus interface controller 2041. The image bus interfacecontroller 2041 transfers the transferred compressed (or decompressed)image data to the RAM 2002 or the devices on the image bus 2008.

This sequence of processing is repeated until the CPU 2001 stops issuingprocessing requests (until a required number of pages have all beenprocessed) or until the image compressing section 2043 issues a stoprequest (when, for example, an error has occurred during compression ordecompression).

The construction of the image rotating section 2030 will now bedescribed with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. 7. An imagebus interface controller 2031 is connected to the image bus 2008 tocontrol a bus access sequence thereof, and also controls setting of amode or the like for an image rotating section 2032, and carries outcontrol of timing for transferring image data to the image rotatingsection 2032.

The CPU 2001 carries out setting of the image bus interface controller2031 for image rotation control via the image bus 2008. In accordancewith this setting, the image bus interface controller 2031 carries outsetting of the image rotating section 2032 necessary for the imagerotation (for example, the image size, the direction and angle ofrotation, etc.).

After the required settings have been made, the CPU 2001 again permitsthe image bus interface controller 2031 to transfer image data. Inaccordance with this permission, the image bus interface controller 2031starts transfer of image data from the RAM 2002 or the devices on theimage bus 2008. In the present embodiment, the image data is representedby 32 bits, the image to be rotated has a size of 32×32 bits, and whenthe image data is transferred onto the image bus 2008, the imagetransfer is carried out in units of 32 bits. Moreover, it is assumedthat the images handled are binary images.

As a result, to obtain a 32×32-bit image, the data transfer with theabove units must be carried out 32 times, and moreover it is necessaryto transfer image data from discontinuous addresses. FIG. 8 is a viewshowing the addresses of the image data at the transfer source. Theimage data that has been transferred by discontinuous addressing iswritten into a RAM 2033 such that it is rotated at a desired angle whenread out. For example, in the case of anticlockwise rotation through 90degrees, the 32 bits of image data transferred first are written in theY-direction as shown in FIG. 9. By reading in the X-direction, the imageis rotated. FIG. 9 is a view showing the directions in which the imagedata are written and read out.

After the 32×32 bit image has been completely rotated (or written intothe RAM 2033), the image rotating section 2032 reads our the image datafrom the RAM 2033 using the readout method described above, andtransfers the image to the image bus interface controller 2031.

Upon receiving the image data that has been subjected to rotationprocessing, the image bus interface controller 2031 transfers the datato the RAM 2002 or the devices on the image bus 2008 using continuousaddressing. This sequence of processing is repeated until the CPU 2001stops issuing processing requests (until a required number of pages haveall been processed).

The construction of the device interface section 2020 will now bedescribed with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. 10. An imagebus interface controller 2021 is connected to the image bus 2008 tocontrol a bus access sequence thereof, and also controls each of thedevices in the device interface section 2020 and generates timingtherefor. Moreover, the image bus interface controller 2021 alsogenerates control signals sent to an external scanner 2070 and theprinter 2095.

A scan buffer 2002 temporarily stores image data transmitted from thescanner 2070, and outputs the image data onto the image bus 2008 insynchronism therewith. A serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serialconverting section 2023 arranges the image data stored in the scanbuffer 2022, in a predetermined order, or disintegrate the image data toconvert the image data into data of a data width that is suitable fortransfer to the image bus 2008. A parallel-to-serial andserial-to-parallel converting section 2024 disintegrates the image datatransferred from the image bus 2008 or arranges the data to convert thedata into data of a data width suitable for saving in a print buffer2025. The print buffer 2025 temporarily saves the image data transmittedfrom the image bus 2008, and outputs the data to the printer 2095 insynchronism therewith.

During image scanning, the image data transmitted from the scanner 2070is saved in the scan buffer 2022 in synchronism with the timing signaltransmitted from the scanner 100.

If the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, when 32 bits or more of image datahave been stored in the scan buffer 2022, 32 bits of image data aretransmitted from the scan buffer 2022 to the serial-to-parallel andparallel-to-serial converting section 2023 in a first-in first-outmanner. The serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial converting section2023 converts the 32-bit data into 32 bits of image data, which is thentransferred onto the image bus 2008 through the image bus interfacecontroller 2021.

On the other hand, if the image bus 2008 is an IEEE1394 bus, the imagedata from the scab buffer 2022 is transmitted in a first-in first-outmanner to the serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial convertingsection 2023, which then converts the data into serial image data, whichis transferred onto the image bus 2008 via the image bus interfacecontroller 2021.

During image printing, if the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, the image businterface controller 2021 receives the 32-bit image data from the imagebus, and then transmits the same to the parallel-to-serial andserial-to-parallel converting section 2024, which then disintegrates thedata into a number of bits of image data suitable for input to theprinter 2095 and saves them in the print buffer 2025.

On the other hand, if the image bus is an IEEE 1394 bus, the image businterface controller 2021 receives the serial image data from the imagebus and then transmits the same to the parallel-to-serial andserial-to-parallel converting section 2024, which then converts the datainto a number of bits of image data suitable for input to the printer2095 and saves the same in the print buffer 2025. Then, the image datain the print buffer 2055 is transmitted to the printer 2095 in afirst-in first-out manner synchronously with the timing signaltransmitted from the printer 2095.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the construction of the operatingsection 2012. A LCD display section 2013 is comprised of an LCD having atouch panel sheet 2019 stuck thereto. The LCD display section 2013displays a system operation screen and soft keys, and when any of thedisplayed keys is depressed, it transmits information corresponding tothe location of that key to the CPU 2001 of the controller unit 2000. Astart key 2014 is used to start an operation of reading images fromoriginals. The start key 2014 has a two-color LED 2018 provided in acentral portion thereof and which is lighted green or red to indicatewhether or not the start key 2014 is available. A stop key 2015 servesto stop an operation in progress. An ID key 2016 is used to input a userID. A reset key 2017 is used to initialize settings from the operatingsection 2012.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of theoperating section 2012 and the operating section interface 2006. Asdescribed above, the CPU 2001 comprehensively controls access to variousdevices connected to the system bus 2007 based on a control program andothers stored in the program ROM 2003, and reads in input informationfrom the scanner 2070 via the device interface 2020, and outputs animage signal as output information to the printer 2095 via the deviceinterface 2022, as shown in FIG. 2.

The CPU 2001 receives a user input signal input from a touch panel 2019or any of the hard keys 2014 to 2017 via an input port 20061 of theoperating section interface 2006, to obtain the contents of theoperation. The CPU 2001 then generates display screen data based on theobtained contents of the operation and the above described controlprogram in the ROM 2003, and outputs a display screen to the LCD displaysection 2013 via an output port 20062 of the operating section interface2006 that controls the screen output device.

The operation of the image input/output apparatus 200 will now bedescribed with reference to a screen displayed on the LCD displaysection 2013.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an initial screen displayed on the LCD displaysection 2013 and also acting as a standard screen displayed after theimage forming functions have been set.

Reference numeral 3101 denotes a soft key used during image formation toset an equimultiplication output without using the variable powerfunction. Reference numeral 3102 denotes a soft key for setting thevariable power function. Reference numeral 3103 denotes a soft key forsetting an output sheet size. Reference numeral 3106 denotes a soft keyfor setting a two-sided output. Reference numeral 3107 denotes a softkey for executing setting for sorting of output sheets. Referencenumeral 3109 denotes a soft key for setting other applied functions.Reference numeral 3110 denotes a soft key for allowing the user toeasily set the read image or images to be allotted to a plurality ofimage output apparatues for printing (this will be hereinafter referredto as “the cascade copying”). A soft key, not shown, can be used to seta remote copy mode in which the read image is printed by another imageoutput apparatus. When any of these soft keys is depressed, a displayscreen for further detailed settings is displayed.

The image input/output apparatus 200 can output image data to the imageoutput apparatus (printer 2295 or 2395) of the remote image input/outputapparatus 220 or 230 connected thereto via the LAN 2011 (remote copying)and carry out the cascade copying, but when initialized, it is set tooutput images to itself (local copying). Depending on whether theoperation mode is set for the local copying, remote copying, or cascadecopying, a display area 3105 provides a display for ascertaining thesetting status of the operation mode. Reference numeral 3108 denotes agroup of soft keys for setting an image output density.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a setting screen displayed when the soft key3110 shown in FIG. 13 is depressed. This setting screen allows the userto set the cascade copying easily.

Reference numeral 3201 denotes a group of soft keys for designating anoutput medium (sheet) size; in an initial state, an A4-sized sheet keyin the upper left of the screen is selected and reversely displayed orhighlighted. A group of soft keys 3201 are toggled such that one of theplurality of keys is always selected and reversely displayed. Referencenumeral 3202 denotes a soft key for limiting the number of image outputapparatuses for cascade copying to two, and reference numeral 3203denotes a soft key for limiting the number of image output apparatusesfor cascade copying to three. Reference numeral 3204 denotes a displayscreen for displaying a list of combinations of image output apparatusesfrom which the image is to be output. When either the soft key 3202 or3203 is depressed, the display screen 3204 shows a list of combinationsof image output apparatuses that can output the image with the sheetsize selected by the group of soft keys 3201. FIG. 14 shows threecombinations of image output apparatuses selected when the soft key 3202is depressed. Information on the sizes of sheets on which each of theplurality of image output apparatuses including the local one can formimages is stored and managed in a memory of the local apparatus (or amemory of a managing server on the network) in a manner distinguishingthe sheet sizes for each of these image output apparatuses, so that thedisplay screen 3204 is controlled to display the combination informationbased on the stored and managed information.

The image output apparatuses listed in the display screen 3204 areretrieved from a plurality of image output apparatuses which areregistered in advance (detailed description of the method of registeringthese apparatuses is omitted). One of the combinations of the imageoutput apparatuses listed in the display screen 3204 can be selected andreversely displayed by means of a touch input, and a setting enter key3205 is depressed to complete setting the cascade copying with theselected image output apparatuses. In the display screen 3204, theselection and reverse display can be cleared by depressing the locationof the selected and reversely displayed combination of image outputapparatuses again. Further, when one of the combinations has beenselected and reversely displayed and another combination is selected bydepressing its location, the selection and reverse display of the formerare cleared, while the latter is reversely displayed.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a standard screen displayed when the cascadecopying is set in the setting screen shown in FIG. 14 and the settingenter key 3205 is then depressed.

Reference numeral 3301 denotes an icon indicating that cascade copyinghas been set. Reference numeral 3302 denotes a character stringindicating that cascade copying has been set. The icon 3301 and thestring 3302 indicate the contents of settings.

FIG. 16 is a view showing the construction of software for processesexecuted by the controller unit 2000. Programs for executing theapplications shown in FIG. 16 are stored in the ROM 2003. The programsare read out from the ROM 2003 when the image forming apparatus isactuated, and are executed by the CPU 2001. While the image formingapparatus is in operation, the applications shown in FIG. 16 areresident on the RAM 2002.

Reference numeral 4010 denotes a UI control section for controlling theoperating section 2012. Reference numeral 4020 denotes a copyapplication section for causing an equipment control section to executea copy job. Reference numeral 4030 denotes a common interface sectionfor accommodating an equipment dependent portion of the equipmentcontrol section. Reference numeral 4040 denotes a job manager forarranging job information received from the common interface section4030 and transmitting the information to a document processing sectionin a lower layer. For local copying, a scan manager 4050 and a printmanger 4090 are actuated. For a job of transmitting a remote copy, thescan manager 4050 and a store manager 4100 are actuated. For a job ofreceiving a remote copy, a file read manager 4060 and the print manager490 are actuated. For printing of PDL such as LIPS or PostScript, a PDLmanager 4070 and the print manager 4090 are actuated. Synchronizationbetween document managers and requests for image processing are carriedout via a synchronization manager 4080. Image processing for scanning orprinting and storage of image files are executed by an image manager4110.

First, a software process for local copying will be described.

The user instructs the UI control section 4010 to execute copying andtransmits copy settings to the copy application section 4020. The copyapplication section 4020 transmits information from the UI controlsection 4010 to the job manager 4040that controls equipment, via thecommon interface section 4030. The job manager 4040 transmits the jobinformation to both the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090.

The scan manager 4050 requests, via the device interface 2020, thescanner 2070 to execute scanning. At the same time, the scan manager4050 issues an image processing request to the image manager 4110 viathe synchronization manager 4080. The image manager 4110 sets thescanner image processing section 2080 in accordance with the instructionfrom the scan manager 4050. Once the settings have been completed, theimage manager 4110 informs the scan manager 4050 via thatsynchronization manager 4080 that preparations for scanning have beencompleted. Subsequently, the scan manager 4050 instructs the scanner2070 to execute scanning. When all the scanned images are transferred,the image manager 4110 is informed of this through an interrupt signalfrom hardware, not shown.

Upon being informed by the image manager 4110 that the scanningoperation has been completed, the synchronization manager 4080communicates this to the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090.At the same time, the synchronization manager 4080 instructs the imagemanager 4110 to store images accumulated in the RAM 2002, in an HDD 2004as a file.

In accordance with this instruction, the image manager 4110 stores aTIFF-JBIG or TIFF-MMR file in the HDD 2004 using the image compressingsection 2040. Once the file has been completely stored in the HDD 2004and upon receiving a scan completion signal from the scanner 2070, theimage manager 4110 notifies the scan manager 4050 via thesynchronization manager 4080 that the images have been stored as a file.The scan manager 4050 returns the completion notification to the jobmanager 4040, which in turn returns it to the copy application section4020 via the common interface section 4030.

The print manager 4090 issues a print request to the printer 2095 viathe device interface 2020 when images are loaded in the RAM 2002. Theprint manager 4090 then issues an image processing request to thesynchronization manager 4080. Upon receiving the request from the printmanager 4090, the synchronization manager 4080 requests the imagemanager 4110 to execute image processing setting. The image manager 4110sets the printer image processing section 2090 and notifies the printmanager 4090 via the synchronization manager 4080 that preparations forprinting have been completed. The print manager 4090 gives a printinstruction to the printer 2095. Through an interrupt signal fromhardware, not shown, the image manager 4110 is informed that all theprint images have been transferred.

Upon being informed by the image manager 4110 that the printingoperation has been completed, the synchronization manager 4080communicates this to the print manager 4090. Upon being informed thatall the printed sheets have been discharged from the printer 2095, theprint manager 4090 returns the completion notification to the jobmanager 4040, which in turn returns it to the copy application section4020 via the common interface section 4030. When the scanning orprinting operation is completed, the copy application section 4020notifies the UI control section 4010 that the job has been completed.

Next, a software process for a remote copy scan job (transmission job)will be described.

In place of the print manager 4090, the store manager 4100 receives arequest from the job manager 4040. Once all the scanned images have beenstored in the HDD 2004, the store manager 4100 is informed by thesynchronization manager 4080 that all the images have been stored, andcommunicates this to the copy application section 4020 via the commoninterface section 4030. Upon receiving this notification, the copyapplication section 4020 requests the network application section 4120to transmit the file stored in the HDD 2004. The network applicationsection 4120, upon receiving the request, transmits the file. Thenetwork application section 4120 receives setting information on copyingfrom the copy application section 4020 at the start of the job, andcommunicates this to the remote side (reception side).

Next, a software process for a remote copy print job (reception job)will be described.

The network application section 4120 saves image data from thetransmission side in the HDD 2004, and issues a print job to the copyapplication section 4020. The copy application section 4020 inputs theprint job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface section 4030.In contrast to local copying, the file read manager 4060, in place ofthe scan manager 4050, receives the request from the job manager 4040. Arequest for expanding the received images from the HDD 2004 onto the RAM2002 is issued to the image manager 4110 via the synchronization manager4080. The image manager 4110 decompresses a TIFF-JBIG or TIFF-MMR fileusing the image compressing section 2040, to expand the images onto theRAM 2002. Once the expansion has been completed, the image manager 4110communicates this to the file read manager 4060 and the print manager4090 via the synchronization manager 4080.

When the images are loaded in the RAM 2002, the print manager 4090selects a sheet feeding stage indicated by the job manager or a sheetfeeding stage having a sheet size for the images, and issues a printrequest to the printer 2095 via the device interface 2020. For automaticsheet feeding, the print manager 4090 determines the sheet feeding stagebased on the image size before issuing the print request. The printmanager 4090 then issues the print image processing request to thesynchronization manager 4080.

Upon receiving the print image processing request from the print manager4090, the synchronization manager 4080 requests the image manager 4110to execute image processing setting. The synchronization manager 4080also requests the image manager 4110 to give an instruction for rotationas required. Upon receiving the instruction for rotation, the imagemanager 4110 rotates the images using the image rotating section 2030.

The image manager 4110 sets the printer image processing section 2090and notifies the print manager 4090 via the synchronization manager 4080that preparations for printing have been completed. The print manager4090 gives the print instruction to the printer 2095. Through aninterrupt signal from hardware, not shown, the image manager 4110 isinformed that all the print images have been transferred. Upon beinginformed by the image manager 4110 that the printing operation has beencompleted, the synchronization manager 4080 communicates this to thefile read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090. The file read manager4060 returns the completion notification to the job manager 4040. Uponbeing informed that all the printed sheets have been discharged from theprinter 2095, the print manager 4090 returns the completion notificationto the job manager 4040. The job manager 4040 in turn returns it to thecopy application section 4020 via the common interface section 4030.When the printing operation is completed, the copy application section4020 notifies the UI control section 4010 that the job has beencompleted.

It should be understood that in cascade copying that outputs images to aplurality of pieces of remote equipment, a plurality of transmission andreception jobs as described above in the remote copying are present forone input image.

Next, transmission of information accompanying images (imageaccompanying information) will be described.

In this embodiment, image data is transmitted page by page to the remoteside using a TIFF-MMR or TIFF-JBIG file, so that the image accompanyinginformation is transmitted using a free area in a TIFF header of thatfile. For both-side printing originals, the image accompanyinginformation is set for each of the front and back sides of the originalas one page.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the construction of the TIFF header used inthe present embodiment.

Tags shown herein are written to the TIFF header in accordance with thecontents of an instruction from the scan manager 4050 when the imagemanager 4110 stores a file in the HDD 2004.

The notation of the tag names and their sizes complies to a standard“TIFF Revision 6.0 Final Jun. 3, 1992” of Aldus in the U.S.A. Only thetags that have been newly added in order to transmit the imageaccompanying information to remote equipment and which are not describedin the above standard will be described below.

Tags MarginTop, MarginBtm, MarginLft, and MarginRit define marginsprovided at the top, bottom, left, and right of an image, in terms ofthe number of pixels. The locations of the margins added to a scannedimage are shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B. FIG. 18A shows an original image,and FIG. 18B shows a scanned image.

That is, in both main scanning and sub-scanning, the image rotatingsection 2030 can only rotate 32 pixels of image at a time due torestrictions on hardware. Thus, when an image is scanned and loaded inthe RAM 2002, margins are added to the image area of the original inorder to limit the image size to 32 pixels. The margins are typicallyprovided at the right (MarginRit) and bottom (MarginBtm) of the image.

In FIG. 17, the tag ImageKind indicates the type of an originaldesignated by the user from the operating section 2012. The user candesignate text, text/photo, or photo for each page, using the operatingsection 2012.

The tag MediaCode stores the size of the original. The original size isrepresented by lower eight bits, for example, 0×0001 for an A4-sizedsheet and 0×0002 for an A3-sized sheet. Further, for an A4R-sized sheetof the same size as the A4-sized sheet, the direction of the original isrepresented by, for example, 0×0101 as these eight bits.

The tag Side is used to discriminate between the front side and backside of the original.

The tags WithoutZoomW and WithoutZoomL indicate, in terms of the numberof pixels, the image size prior to correction with the margins excludedif the image size has been corrected by means of zoom fine adjustment.That is, the user can fine-adjustment zooming between −1.0% and +1.0% atintervals of 0.1%, and the image size prior to such fine adjustment isset as the tags WithoutZoomW and WithoutZoomL, as shown below.WithoutZoomW=ImageWidth−MarginRit  (1)WithoutZoomL=ImageLength−MarginBtm  (2)

Next, a description will be given of a process executed by the remoteside receiving the TIFF header with the image accompanying informationas the above tags.

First, the use of the tag Margin will be described. In the remotecopying according to the present embodiment, the location of an image tobe printed on a sheet can be adjusted based on the tag Margin.

On the remote side, in accordance with an instruction from the printmanager 4090, the image manager 4110 determines the location of theimage taking the margins into consideration. The location of the imagecan be easily adjusted by setting the printer image processing section2090 so as to change timing in which the image is outputted to theprinter 2095.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are views showing a print process executed if a “nosheet” status occurs during A4-sized image printing and a B4-sized sheetis then selected.

In FIG. 19A, reference numeral 7010 denotes a A4-sized sheet area, andreference numeral 7020 denotes an image area including the margins. Inthis case, no problem occurs if an A4-sized image is printed on a singleside of an A4-sized sheet. If, however, the “no sheet” status occurs andthe user then selects a B4-sized sheet, the image is rotated through 900in accordance with a request from the print manager 4090 (without therotation, the image may project out from the sheet and this projectingportion is not printed). At this time, as shown in FIG. 19B, the imagelocation is corrected by shifting an image 7030 leftward relative to aB4-sized sheet area 7040 by the amount indicated by the tag MarginBtm.

In a similar case in which A4-sized sheets are printed on both sides andbound at their top, images for the back sides of the sheets are rotatedthrough 180°. At this time, the image is moved upward by the amountindicated by the tag MarginBtm and leftward by the amount indicated bythe tag MarginRit.

Such image location control is similar to that in the local copying, andthe remote or cascade copying can thus provide image outputs havingquality equivalent to that in the local copying.

Next, the use of the tag ImageKind will be described. In the remotecopying according to the present embodiment, the quality of an image tobe printed can be adjusted based on the tag ImageKind.

In the local copying, the original type is used as information for imageprocessing. Specifically, the original type is used to determine whetheror not to execute smoothing to obscure jagged parts of the image or todetermine the level (intensity) of the smoothing. When the image issmoothed during the remote copying, on the remote side, the imagemanager 4010 determines an image processing method in accordance with aninstruction from the print manager 4090, taking the original type intoconsideration. That is, the intensity of the smoothing, which eliminatesjagged parts from characters, is switched depending on the originaltype. The smoothing process can be easily achieved by properly settingthe printer image processing section 2090. In the text mode, thesmoothing process is turned on (executed) to obscure jagged parts ofcharacters. In the text/photograph mode, the smoothing process is turnedoff (not executed) because the density of a photograph portion may bechanged due to the smoothing. As a result, an image quality equivalentto that in the local copying can be obtained.

Next, the use of the tag Side will be described. In the remote copyingaccording to the present embodiment, a location of an image to beprinted on a sheet can be adjusted based on the tag Side.

If the user designates printing of images of a double-side original on asingle side of a recording sheet using the operating section 2012, asshown in FIG. 20, and sets a binding margin for both the front and backsides, then in the local copying, when the front side is printed, thebinding margin is produced using the amount of binding margin for thisside. On the other hand, when the back side is printed, the bindingmargin is produced using the amount of binding margin for this side, asshown in FIG. 21. Accordingly, producing such binding margins on theremote side requires information for discriminating between the frontside and back side of the original. FIG. 20 shows a screen displayed onthe operating section 2012 when printing of images of a double-sideoriginal on a single side of a recording sheet is designated, and FIG.21 shows a screen displayed on the operating section 2012 when left sidebinding is set.

When the remote side receives the tag Side from the TIFF header, theprint manager 4090 discriminates between the front side and back side ofthe sheets, sets the remote copy mode, and communicates the amount ofshift required for the binding margin to the image manager 4110 inaccordance with instructions transmitted through the network applicationsection 4120, the copy application section 4020, the common interfacesection 4030, the job manager 4040, and the print manager 4090 in thisorder. The image location can be easily set by the image manager 4110 bysetting the printer image processing section 2090 so as to change thetiming for outputting the image to the printer 2095.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are views showing results of printing when the frontside 8301 and back side 8302 of an A4-sized original image are copied inthe remote copy mode.

In FIG. 22A, reference numeral 8310 denotes the image on the front side,and reference numeral 8320 denotes the location of an A4-sized sheet forthe front side. The binding margin for the original front side isproduced by shifting the image 10 mm upward relative to the sheet.

In FIG. 22B, reference numeral 8330 denotes the image on the back side,and reference numeral 8340 denotes the location of an A4-sized sheet forthe back side. The binding margin for the original back side is producedby shifting the image 12 mm upward relative to the sheet.

In this manner, the remote copying process can set the binding margin asproperly as the local copying process.

Next, the use of the tags WithoutZoomW and WithoutZoomL will bedescribed. In the remote copying according to the present embodiment,selection of a sheet feeding stage and sheets as well as control ofrotation can be executed based on the tag WithoutZoomW and WithoutZoomL.

The image input/output apparatus 200 of the present embodiment carriesout variable powering during scanning. The variable powering in the mainscanning direction is carried out by setting the scanner imageprocessing section 2080, while the variable powering in the sub-scanningdirection is carried out by changing the scan speed of the scanner 2070.When the user sets the zoom fine adjustment using the operating section2012, the scan manager 4050 carries out variable powering by providingvariable power information to both the scanner 2070 and the imagemanager 4110. Thus, during scanning, the image size varies with thepower or scale factor. If the zoom fine adjustment causes the image sizeto increase slightly beyond the sheet size, a sheet size that is notdesired by the user may be selected during automatic sheet selection.For example, with a scale factor of 100%, the A4 image size correspondsto 7015×4960 pixels. With a scale factor of 101%, however, this imagesize corresponds to 7076×5010 pixels and does not fit a predefined A4sheet size (7015×4960 pixels). Consequently, sheets of a larger sizesuch as B4 (6071×8598 pixels) may be selected, or an A3 (7015×9220pixels) size may be selected if no B4-sized sheets are available. Inconventional copying machines (local copying), if zoom fine adjustmentis carried out, the sheet size is selected based on the image size afterthe zoom fine adjustment.

In the present embodiment, if the user sets the automatic sheetselection for the remote copying using the operating section 2012, andthe remote printer then selects the sheet size, then the image sizeafter the zoom fine adjustment is neglected, and the sheet size isselected based on the tags WithoutZoomW and WithoutZoomL, which areindicative of the image size before the zoom fine adjustment. As aresult, even if the zoom fine adjustment results in a slight increase inimage size, the sheet size is selected depending on the image sizebefore the zoom fine adjustment, thereby preventing the image from beingoutput to unnecessarily large sheets. Thus, the remote copying processor cascade copying process can select sheets as properly as the localcopying process.

During the above sheet selection, the A4-sized sheet is selected, but ifno A4-sized sheet is left on the selected sheet feeding stage, anothersheet feeding stage has to be selected and corresponding sheet selectionand rotation control (for example, control required to select theB4-sized sheet as shown in FIG. 19) has to be executed. Also in thiscase, selection of the sheet feeding stage and rotation control may beexecuted based on the tags WithoutZoomW and Without Zoom L.

In the above described embodiment, the TIFF header containing the imageaccompanying information as tags is transmitted, but this may becommunicated between network applications as information separate fromthe image.

Further, the above described transmission of the image accompanyinginformation for the remote copying also applies to the cascade copying.

Next, the remote copying process executed in the system shown in FIG. 1will be described with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 23. Here,it is assumed that the image input/output apparatus 200 acts as thelocal side, and the image input/output apparatus 220 acts as the remoteside.

First, in the image input/output apparatus 200, that is, the local side,in response to the setting of remote copying and the start instructionfrom the operating section 2012, the UI control section 4010communicates copy setting information to the copy application section4020 (step S2301).

Based on the received copy setting information, the copy applicationsection 4020 generates a copy job (step S2302).

The copy application section 4020 inputs the generated copy job to thejob manager 4040 via the common interface section 4030. At this time,the copy application section 4020 also communicates the copy settinginformation to the job manager 4040 (step S2303).

Then, the job manager 4040 communicates the copy setting information onthe input job to a document processing section (scan manager 4050,synchronization manager 4080, image manager 4110, and others) in a lowerlayer. The document processing section processes the copy job under thecontrol of the job manager 4040 based on the input copy settinginformation. At this time, as in the above described local copying, thescanner 2070 receives original images, and the input original data istemporarily accumulated in the RAM 2002 (step S2304).

The scanned images accumulated in the RAM 2002 are converted into a TIFFfile, which is then stored in the HDD 2004. At this time, the header ofthe TIFF file contains the already received copy setting information(binding margin information in FIG. 21 and the like) and information(original front and back information and the like) obtained throughprocessing executed by the document processing section (step S2305).

Once all the scanned images have been stored in the HDD 2004, the copyapplication section 4020 requests the network application section 4120to transmit the file stored in the HDD 2004. Upon receiving the request,the network application section 4120 transmits the TIFF file with theimage accompanying information to the remote side (image input/outputapparatus 220). Although in the present embodiment, the networkapplication section transmits the TIFF file as it is, the imageaccompanying information may be added to the header when the TIFF fileis transmitted (step S2306).

In this way, the image data processed by the image input/outputapparatus 200 is transmitted to the image input/output apparatus 220 asthe remote side, which then starts its process.

In the image input/output apparatus 220, the network application section412 receives the image data in the form of TIFF file from the imageinput/output apparatus 200 (step S2307).

The network application section 4120 saves the received image data inthe HDD 2004 and issues a print job to the copy application section 4020(step S2308).

The copy application section 4020 inputs the print job to the jobmanager 4040 via the common interface section 4030 (step S2309).

The job manager 4040 instructs the document processing section (fileread manager 4060, synchronization manager 4080, image manager 4110,print manager 4090, and others) to execute the job. Based on theinstruction and under the control from the job manager 4040, thedocument processing section decompresses the received TIFF file storedin the HDD 2004 to expand it onto the RAM 2002 (step S2310).

Once the expansion has been completed, the job manager 4040 instructsthe document processing section to execute a process based on the imageaccompanying information attached to the header of the TIFF file. Asdescribed above, the print manager 4090, the synch manager 4080, and theimage manager 4110 carry out selection of the sheet feeding stage,setting of the image location, setting of margins, setting imageprocessing, and the like, and the printer 2295 prints out the receivedimages (step S2311).

When all the printed sheets have been discharged from the printer 2295,the copy application section 4020 notifies the UI control section 4010that the job has been completed (step S2312).

The remote copying process in the system shown in FIG. 1 has thus beendescribed, but the above description also applies to the cascadecopying. That is, the image input/output apparatus 220 and the imageinput/output apparatus 230 may be defined as the remote side, and thestep S2306 and the subsequent steps may be executed on theseapparatuses.

In the present embodiment, the image data is converted into the TIFFformat (TIFF-JBIG or TIFF-MMR), and the image accompanying informationis added to the header of the data. This eliminates the need toseparately transmit the image accompanying information, thus reducingthe load on the network and simplifying the sequence of remote outputprocesses. The format of the image data, however, is not limited tothis. The present invention is applicable to any format such as the XML(extensible Markup Language) which can contain not only the image databut also the image accompanying information.

Further, in the present embodiment, the image input/output apparatuseshaving the same configuration act as the local apparatus and the remoteapparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. Forexample, the remote side may be a unitary printer apparatus without anyscanner section. In this case, the construction of the printer apparatuscorresponds to the construction of the image input/output apparatus ofthe present embodiment excluding a construction for the scannerfunction. Accordingly, the printer apparatus as the remote side can beimplemented easily. On the other hand, the local side may be a unitaryscanner apparatus without any printer section. In this case, theconstruction of the scanner apparatus corresponds to the construction ofthe image input/output apparatus of the present embodiment excluding aconstruction for the printer function. Accordingly, the scannerapparatus as the local side can be implemented easily.

Moreover, it is to be understood that the present invention is not onlyapplicable to digital composite machines, printer apparatuses, andscanner apparatuses but also to any other apparatuses such as Internetfacsimile terminal apparatuses which have the image input and outputfunctions.

As described above, the local side transmits the image data and itsimage accompanying information input thereto through the scannersection, to the remote side. The remote side receives the image data andthe image accompanying information from the local side, and causes theprinter section to output images based on the received image data andimage accompanying information. Thus, the remote side can obtain resultsof image outputs equivalent to those on the local side.

(Second Embodiment)

An automatic cassette selecting operation of selecting an optimal sheetsize for image output has been performed by the local image input/outputapparatus. Then, an instruction for a printout operation using acassette for the selected sheet size is transmitted to the remote imageoutput/output apparatus.

That is, the image input/output apparatus on the remote side cannotautonomously select a cassette but is controlled by the local imageinput/output apparatus. In the present embodiment, a remote imageinput/output apparatus that can manage sheet cassettes and automaticallyselect sheets will be described.

First, the conventional automatic cassette selection will be describedin brief. The automatic cassette selection is an operation mode in whichthe image input apparatus detects the size of an input image andautomatically selects one of the cassettes provided in the image outputapparatuses which has optimal sheets set therein. By selecting theoptimal sheet size using the automatic cassette selection, the user canexecute setting of the sheet size, etc. easily. Also in the presentembodiment, the scanner of each image input/output apparatus is providedwith a sensor for detecting the size of originals. Original sizeinformation obtained is communicated from the scanner to the controllerunit for management.

Next, the management of the sheet cassettes according to the presentembodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the image input/outputapparatus 200 of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality ofsheet cassettes 2101 to 2104 in the printer 2095. These sheet cassettescan transmit and receive cassette information to and from the controllerunit 200 via the bus 2096.

The cassette information obtained from the printer 2095 by the CPU 2001is retained in the RAM 2002. The cassette information includes sizeinformation retained by each sheet cassette and the presence of sheetsin each sheet cassette.

The sheet cassettes each include a sensor for detecting the presence ofsheets. During a printout operation, the CPU 2001 checks the results ofthe detection by the sensor as transmitted from the printer 2095whenever an image from each original is output. If the CPU 2001 detectsinformation indicative of the absence of sheets, it temporarily stopsthe printout operation and starts a predetermined error process.

Next, the automatic cassette selection according to the presentembodiment will be described. Conventionally, in the remote copying orcascade copying, the local image output apparatus obtains cassetteinformation on the remote side beforehand. Then, the local side carriesout the automatic cassette selection by selecting a sheet cassette ofthe remote side which is optimal for image outputs, based on theobtained cassette information.

In the present embodiment, the local side does not select the sheetcassettes of the remote side, but the remote side carries out cassetteselection. That is, the remote image input/output apparatus detects thesize of a received image and automatically selects one of the cassettesprovided therein which has optimal sheets set therein.

As described with respect to the first embodiment, in the presentembodiment as well, the local image input/output apparatus transmits theimage data in the TIFF file format to the remote image input/outputapparatus. As shown in FIG. 17, the header of the TIFF file has the tagsImageWidth and Image Length attached thereto and which arerepresentative of the size of the image.

The remote image input/output apparatus analyzes the header of thereceived TIFF file to determine the size of the image based on thevalues of the tags ImageWidth and ImageLength. The remote imageinput/output apparatus then compares the determined image size with thesheet size information stored in the RAM 2003, to select a sheetcassette retaining sheets of a size most suitable for the printout.Alternatively, the received data may be stored so that after thereception has been completed, the image size can be determined bycounting the number of pixels in the image.

Next, a description will be given of a case in which the automaticcassette selecting process of the present embodiment is applied to theremote copying in the system shown in FIG. 1. In this case, it isassumed that the image input/output apparatus 200 acts as the localside, whereas the image input/output apparatus 220 acts as the remoteside. That is, in this case, the automatic cassette selection is carriedout when an image read by the scanner 2070 is output to the printers2095 and 2295.

The printer 2095 and 2295 are black and white printers that can printboth sides of sheets, and the printer 2395 is a black and white printerthat cannot print both sides of sheets. The operating section 2012 ofthe controller unit 2000 is provided with a start key for startingreading the image.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the procedure of an image output processexecuted by the controller unit 2000 of the local image input/outputapparatus 200. A program for this process is stored in the ROM 2003 inthe controller unit 2000 and is executed by the CPU 2001.

First, it is determined whether or not the start key has been depressed(step S2401), and the CPU waits until the start key is depressed. If thestart key has been depressed, an original is fed to the scanner 2070(step S2402). Immediately when the scanner 2070 has read the image fromthe original, the image is transferred to the local black and whiteprinter 2095 as well as to the remote black and white printer 2295 viathe LAN 2011 (step S2403).

To print the read image on the local side, the black and white printer2095 automatically selects one of the cassettes (step S2404) and printsout the image on a sheet from the selected cassette (step S2405).

Then, it is determined whether or not images have been printed for allthe pages (step S2406). If images have not been printed for all therequired pages, the procedure returns to the step S2402 to process allthe originals. On the other hand, if, at the step S2406, it isdetermined that images have been printed for all the pages, theprocedure returns to the step S2401 to determine whether or not thestart key has been depressed.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show flow charts showing the procedure of an imageoutput process executed by the remote image input/output apparatus 220.A program for this process is stored in the storage medium (ROM 2003 orHDD 2004) of the image input/output apparatus 220 and is executed by theCPU 2001. The black and white printer 2295 is provided with a pluralityof cassettes housing sheets of respective different sizes; information(cassette information) on these cassettes is already stored in a storagemedium such as the RAM.

First, a description will be given, with reference to the flow chart inFIG. 25, of the procedure of a normal output process executed when thereis no error such as the lack of sheets of an optimal size at the time ofthe automatic cassette selection.

First, it is determined via the LAN 2011 whether or not any image hasbeen received (step S2501). If no image has been received, the CPU waitsuntil an image is received. When an image is received, one page of theimage is received via the LAN 2011 (step S2502).

Next, it is determined whether or not an error flag concerning a sheetselection error is set (on). This error flag is set when it isdetermined at a step S2505 that the sheet selection error has occurred.The flag remains off until the result of the determination becomesaffirmative; in this case, the result of the determination is negative(step S2503).

If one page of the image has been received, the automatic cassetteselection is executed to select a cassette from which sheets are to befed (step S2504).

If there is no sheet of the optimal size based on the automatic cassetteselection, that is, if the error has occurred, the procedure proceeds toan error process started at a step S2601 (step S2505). As this errorprocess, a warning is displayed to indicate that there is no sheet ofthe optimal size in the printer. In this case, a cassette housing sheetsdetermined to be the second most suitable may be selected or the usermay be urged to replace this cassette. Furthermore, if the user is urgedto replace the cassette, a sensor or the like may detect that the userhas replaced the cassette with a new one, and an optimal sheet size maythen be selected again.

If it is determined at the step S2505 that no error has occurred, then asheet is fed from the selected cassette, and the image is printed out onthe fed sheet (step S2506). Then, it is determined whether or not imageshave been printed for all the pages (step S2506). If all the requiredpages have not been printed, the procedure returns to the step S2502 toreceive image data for the next page. On the other hand, if images havebeen printed for all the pages, the procedure returns to the step S2501to determine whether or not any image has been received.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to the flow chartsshown in FIGS. 25 and 26, of the procedure of a process executed when anerror such as the lack of sheets of the optimal size occurs during theautomatic cassette selection on the remote side.

After the image of the first page has been received and before theautomatic cassette selection is carried out, the procedure of theprocess between the steps S2501 and S2504 is executed as in the normalprint process executed if no error occurs. At the step S2505 andsubsequent steps, an error process different from the one describedabove is executed.

First, a case in which the error occurs will be described. As a resultof the determination as to whether or not the sheet selection error hasoccurred at the step S2505, the procedure proceeds to the error processshown in FIG. 26. Then, a print stop warning is displayed on the displayscreen of the operating section 2212 of the image input/output apparatus220, and the above-mentioned error flag is turned on (step S2601).

Then, it is determined whether or not the entire image for the pagetransmitted from the local side has been received (step S2606). If theentire image has been received, an error clearing process is started,whereas if not the entire image has been received, the procedure returnsto the step S2502 to receive the remaining portion of the image for thepage which has not been received.

In this case, if not the entire image for the page has been received,the procedure returns to the step S2502 to continue receiving the imagefor the page. Then, it is determined whether or not the error flag is on(step S2503). Since the error flag is on due to the existing error asshown at the step S2601, the procedure goes through the step 2503 (YES)and the step S2601 to the step S2602 to determine again whether or notthe entire image has been received.

Thus, the above determinations and image reception are carried out untilthe image input/output apparatus receives the entire image for one page.Once the entire image for the page has been received, it is determinedwhether or not the user has cleared the error according to the errorprocess (step S2603).

As mentioned above, the error is cleared by the user by visiting theinstallation site of the remote image input/output apparatus 220 andselecting a cassette that he or she considers to be appropriate, orreplacing the cassette with a new one, for example.

If the error has not been cleared, it is determined whether or not imagedata for all the pages have been received (step S2604). If image datafor all the pages have been received, the procedure returns to the stepS2603. If image data for all the pages have not been received, theprocedure returns to the step S2502, where the CPU receives image datafor the next page and waits for the user to clear the error.

If the user clears the error at the remote image input/output apparatus220, the error flag is turned off (step S2605), and the printer 2295prints out the image using a cassette set by the error clearingoperation (step S2606).

Then, it is determined whether or not images have been printed out forall the pages. If images have not been printed out for all the pages,the procedure returns to the step S3502 to receive image data for thenext page.

On the other hand, if images have been printed out for all the pages,the procedure returns to the step S2501 to determine whether or not anyimage has been received and wait for a reception if no image has beenreceived yet.

As described above, even if an error such as the lack of sheets of theoptimal size occurs during the automatic cassette selection, accordingto the present embodiment, the remote printer 2295 is caused to selectone of the cassettes to deal with the lack of sheets, therebysimplifying the user's operation.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described, but thepresent invention is not limited to these embodiments. The presentinvention is applicable to any constructions insofar as they can achievethe functions shown in the claims or the functions of the constructionsof the embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiments, the size and orientation ofsheets are collectively referred to as “the size”, but the cassette maybe selected based on the type of sheets instead of the size thereof.Further, the material of sheets for use in image formation is notlimited to paper but may be film sheets.

In the above embodiments, images are output to the remote printer 2295,but the present invention is also applicable to outputting of images tothe remote printer 2396. The printers may each manage the cassetteinformation to select the optimal cassette, and may display a warning ifthe optimal cassette is absent. Further, this may be applicable to theprinter 2095 locally connected to the control unit 2000.

Moreover, the remote image output apparatus may be a unitary printer ora system comprised of a plurality of apparatuses (for example, a hostcomputer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer).

It is to be understood that the present invention may also be realizedby supplying a system or an apparatus with a storage medium which storesthe program code of software that realizes the functions of one of theabove described embodiments. In this case, the program code itself readout from the storage medium realizes the above described functions ofthe present invention, so that the storage medium storing the programcode also constitutes the present invention.

In the above embodiments, the program code shown in the flow charts isstored in the storage medium. The storage medium for supplying theprogram code may be selected, for example, from a ROM, floppy disk, harddisk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, magnetictape, and non-volatile memory card.

As described above, the remote apparatus of the system shown in FIG. 1manages the cassette information on the sheet cassettes provided in theprinter section and automatically selects one of the cassettes based onthe managed cassette information. When the remote side is to output theimage data received from the local side, it automatically selects asheet based on the image size of the received image data and under itsown control. This enables the remote side to carry out the automaticsheet selection and control related to the sheet selection.

Further, when an error occurs in the remote output, the operator canoperate the operation panel of the remote side to select a cassettedifferent from the one involved in the error. As a result, the remoteside alone can recover from the error.

Furthermore, the remote side can continue receiving the image data fromthe local side until the operator selects a different cassette, thusreducing the amount of time required for error recovery.

Moreover, the remote side receives the image data page by page whilewaiting for the operator to select a different cassette, and thereforethe operator can recover from the error by taking the contents of eachpage into consideration. As a result, the printout operation can beperformed more flexibly during the error recovery.

The present invention has been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments thereof. The present invention, however, is notlimited to the above described embodiments, but various changes may bemade thereto without deviating from the scope of the invention asclaimed in the claims.

1. An image input/output apparatus, having input means for inputtingimage data of original images, and output means for outputting imagedata, said apparatus being connected to at least one other imageinput/output apparatus via a communication medium, comprising:transmission means for transmitting the image data input by said inputmeans and image accompanying information relating to the input imagedata to said at least one other image input/output apparatus; receivingmeans for receiving image data and image accompanying informationrelating thereto from said at least one other image input/outputapparatus; and output control means for carrying out control so as tooutput images using said output means based on the image data and theimage accompanying information received by said receiving means, whereinthe image accompanying information is indicative of whether the imagedata corresponding to the image accompanying information is related to afront page of an original or to a back page of the original, and whereinsaid output control means adjusts an output position of an image on arecording medium based on the image accompanying information.
 2. Animage input/output apparatus, having input means for inputting imagedata of original images, and output means for outputting image data,said apparatus being connected to at least one other image input/outputapparatus via a communication medium, comprising: transmission means fortransmitting the image data input by said input means and imageaccompanying information relating to the input image data to said atleast one other image input/output apparatus; receiving means forreceiving image data and image accompanying information relating theretofrom said at least one other image input/output apparatus; and outputcontrol means for carrying out control so as to output images using saidoutput means based on the image data and the image accompanyinginformation received by said receiving means, wherein the imageaccompanying information is indicative of an image size before fineadjustment of image size is carried out, and said output control meanscarries out at least selection of a recording medium based on the imageaccompanying information, and wherein said output means is a printerhaving a plurality of sheet feeding stages, and said output controlmeans carries out selection of said sheet feeding stages, selection of aprinting sheet and image rotation control based on the imageaccompanying information.
 3. An image input/output apparatus havingoutput means for outputting image data, and being connected to at leastone other image input/output apparatus via a communication medium,comprising: management means for managing cassette information on sheetcassettes provided in said output means; and first selection means forselecting one of the sheet cassettes for outputting image data by saidoutput means based on the cassette information managed by saidmanagement means; wherein, when image data received from said at leastone other image input/output apparatus is to be outputted by said outputmeans, said first selection means selects one of said sheet cassettesbased on the cassette information.
 4. An image input/output apparatus asclaimed in claim 3, further comprising second selection means forselecting one of said sheet cassettes in accordance with operation inputof an operator, and wherein, if image output using one of the sheetcassettes selected by said first selection means is impossible, imageoutput using another one of the sheet cassettes selected by said secondselection means is commenced.
 5. An image input/output apparatus asclaimed in claim 4, comprising receiving means for receiving image datafrom said at least one image input/output apparatus, and wherein saidreceiving means continues reception of image data from said at least oneimage input/output apparatus until selection is carried out by saidsecond selection means.
 6. An image input/output apparatus as claimed inclaim 5, wherein the reception of the image data is carried out page bypage.
 7. An image input/output apparatus as claimed in claim 3, furthercomprising warning means for displaying a warning if image output usingone of the sheet cassettes selected by said first selection means isimpossible.
 8. An image input/output apparatus as claimed in claim 3,wherein the image size of the received image date is determined based onimage accompanying information sent together with the received imagedata.
 9. An image input/output apparatus as claimed in claim 3,comprising input means for inputting original images.
 10. A method ofcontrolling an image input/output apparatus having an input section thatinputs image date of original images, and an output section that outputsimage data, and being connected to at least one other image input/outputapparatus via a communication medium, comprising: a transmission step oftransmitting the image data input by said input section and imageaccompanying information relating to the input image data to said atleast one other image input/output apparatus; a receiving step ofreceiving image data and image accompanying information relating theretofrom said at least one other image input/output apparatus; and an outputcontrol step of controlling so as to output images using said outputsection based on the image data and the image accompanying informationreceived through said receiving step, wherein the image accompanyinginformation is indicative of whether the image data corresponding to theimage accompanying information is related to a front page of an originalor to a back page of the original, and said output control stepcomprises adjusting an output position of an image on a recording mediumbased on the image accompanying information.
 11. A method of controllingan image input/output apparatus having an input section that inputsimage data of original images, and an output section that outputs imagedata, and being connected to at least one other image input/outputapparatus via a communication medium, comprising: a transmission step oftransmitting the image data input by said input section and imageaccompanying information relating to the input image data to said atleast one other image input/output apparatus; a receiving step ofreceiving image data and image accompanying information relating theretofrom said at least one other image input/output apparatus; and an outputcontrol step of controlling so as to output images using said outputsection based on the image data and the image accompanying informationreceived through said receiving step, wherein the image accompanyinginformation is indicative of an image size before fine adjustment ofimage size is carried out, and said output control step comprisescarrying out at least selection of a recording medium based on the imageaccompanying information, and wherein said output section is a printerhaving a plurality of sheet feeding stages, and said output control stepcomprises carrying out selection of said sheet feeding stages, selectionof a printing sheet and image rotation control based on the imageaccompanying information.
 12. A method of controlling an imageinput/output apparatus having a printing section that prints image data,and being connected via a communication medium to at least one imagereading apparatus that input image data of original images, comprising:a receiving step of receiving the image data of the original images fromsaid at least one image reading apparatus; a printing step of printingimage data using said printing section; and a printing control step ofcontrolling printing of image data received through said receiving step,using said printing step, wherein in said receiving step, imageaccompanying information relating to the image data of the originalimages is received, and in said printing control step, the printingusing said printing section is controlled based on the image data andthe image accompanying information received through said receiving step,wherein the image accompanying information is indicative of whether theimage data corresponding to the image accompanying information isrelated to a front page of an original or to a back page of theoriginal, and said printing control step comprises adjusting a printingposition of an image on a printing sheet based on the image accompanyinginformation.
 13. A method of controlling an image input/output apparatushaving an output section that outputs image data, and being connected toat least one image input/output apparatus via a communication medium,comprising: a management step of managing cassette information on sheetcassettes provided in said output section; and a first selection step ofselecting one of the sheet cassettes for outputting image data by saidoutput section based on the cassette information managed through saidmanagement step; wherein, when image data received from said at leastone image input/output apparatus is to be outputted by said outputsection, in said first selection step, one of said sheet cassettes isselected based on the cassette information.
 14. A method as claimed inclaim 13, further comprising a second selection step of selecting one ofsaid sheet cassettes in accordance with operation input of an operator;wherein, if image output using one of the sheet cassettes selectedthrough said first selection step is impossible, image output usinganother one of the sheet cassettes selected through said secondselection step is commenced.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 14,comprising a receiving step of receiving image data from said at leastone image input/output apparatus, and wherein in said receiving step,reception of image data from said at least one image input/outputapparatus is continued until selection is carried out through saidsecond selection step.
 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein thereception of the image data is carried out page by page.
 17. A method asclaimed in claim 13, further comprising a warning step of displaying awarning if image output using one of the sheet cassettes selectedthrough said first selection means is impossible.
 18. A method asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the image size of the received image datais determined based on image accompanying information sent together withthe received image data.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprisingan input step of inputting original images.
 20. An image input/outputsystem in which a plurality of image input/output apparatuses havingoutput means for outputting image data are connected together via acommunication medium, wherein: at least on of said image input/outputapparatuses comprises: management means for managing cassetteinformation on sheet cassettes provided in said output means; and firstselection means for selecting one of the sheet cassettes for outputtingimage data by said output means based on the cassette informationmanaged by said management means; and wherein, when image data receivedfrom said at least one other image input/output apparatus is to beoutputted by said output means, said first selection means selects oneof said sheet cassettes based on the cassette information.
 21. Acomputer-readable storage medium storing a program code that implementsa method of controlling an image input/output apparatus having an inputsection that inputs image data of original images, and an output sectionthat outputs image data, and being connected to at least one other imageinput/output apparatus via a communication medium, said program codecomprising: a transmission code for transmitting image data input bysaid input section and image accompanying information relating to saidinput image data to said at least one other image input/outputapparatus; a receiving code for receiving image data and imageaccompanying information relating thereto from said at least one otherimage input/output apparatus; and an output control code for controllingso as to output images using said output section based on the image dataand the image accompanying information received through said receivingcode.
 22. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code thatimplements a method of controlling an image input/output apparatusconnected to at least one image output apparatus via a communicationmedium, said program code comprising: a converting code for convertinginput image data into a TIFF file; and transmission code fortransmitting the TIFF file converted through said converting code tosaid at least one image output apparatus; wherein said transmission codeimplements attaching control information for said at least one imageoutput apparatus to carry out image output of said image data to a freearea in a header of the TIFF file, and transmission of the controlinformation.
 23. A computer-readable storage medium storing a programcode that implements a method of controlling an image input/outputapparatus having an output section that outputs image data and beingconnected to at least one other image input/output apparatus via acommunication medium, said program code comprising: a management codefor managing cassette information on sheet cassettes provided in saidoutput section; and a first selection code for selecting one of thesheet cassettes for outputting image data using said output sectionbased on the cassette information managed through said management code;wherein, when image data received from said at least one other imageinput/output apparatus is to be outputted by said output section, saidfirst selection code implements selection of one of the sheet cassettesbased on the cassette information.